"...Trainer, could we postpone this afternoon's training session just a little?"
That afternoon, while standing on the training field, Saito Asuka heard Bamboo Elegance say these words.
...Postpone a little?
Still in the middle of a yawn, Saito Asuka froze.
"What's wrong?"
Forgetting even to finish his yawn, Saito Asuka's tone grew anxious: "Are you feeling unwell somewhere? Or did you get hurt during your solo training this morning?"
"No, no, trainer, there's no need to be so nervous."
Seeing Saito Asuka approach her with a worried expression, muttering things like 'Are you okay?', Bamboo Elegance covered her stomach and took a step back: "...I just ate too much at lunch and feel a bit uncomfortable."
"...Ate too much?"
His mind still racing through possible reasons for her request, Saito Asuka was taken aback when he heard the black-haired Horse Girl's explanation.
He instinctively lowered his gaze to look at Bamboo Elegance's stomach.
"Hmm? Trainer, where are you looking?"
As his eyes settled on her abdomen, Saito Asuka heard the black-haired Horse Girl in front of him chuckle lightly: "...It's not very gentlemanly to stare at a beautiful young maiden's stomach like this, you know?"
"Ah, sor... sorry!"
Snapping back to reality, Saito Asuka hurriedly apologized: "I just didn't expect... the reason you'd give..."
"Is it a reason you never would have imagined, right?"
Noticing the man's increasingly hesitant tone, Bamboo Elegance finished his sentence with a smile, then sighed somewhat helplessly: "Really... everyone at this academy is just too enthusiastic."
"Ha ha ha..."
Not knowing how to respond, Saito Asuka could only force out the words, 'Isn't this quite good too?' as a reply.
"...Anyway, let me digest my food first."
Hearing Saito Asuka's response, Bamboo Elegance sighed with an increasingly helpless expression: "Otherwise, I won't be able to run at all, you know?"
"I understand. Let's postpone the training start time by half an hour then."
The man glanced at his watch before looking up at Bamboo Elegance.
"Half an hour it is, understood."
Bamboo Elegance nodded and found a chair to sit down.
"Are you feeling unwell? Should I get you some digestive medicine?"
Saito Asuka sat down in the empty seat beside Bamboo Elegance, asking with concern as he noticed her furrowed brows.
"No need... I just ate a bit too much. I'll be fine after resting for a while."
Bamboo Elegance shook her head, then seemed to remember something as she turned to look at the young man.
"Trainer... no, Chairman, could you do me a small favor?"
As she said this, Bamboo Elegance extended her right hand, making a gesture with her thumb and index finger.
"What kind of favor?"
Saito Asuka, who had been about to check his phone for recent news, asked puzzledly: "...I don't think I can help you with anything right now?"
"This is something only you, as Chairman, can help me with right now."
Bamboo Elegance clasped her hands together: "Please, help this poor, beautiful maiden?"
"Alright, alright, I understand, I understand."
Unable to withstand Bamboo Elegance's tone, Saito Asuka quickly surrendered: "...What do you want me to help you with?"
"You're willing to help? That's great!"
Hearing Saito Asuka's words, Bamboo Elegance's face lit up with surprise: "Well... could you talk to that auntie in the cafeteria and ask her not to make me eat this much food ?"
"Although I'm happy to eat delicious food every day... if I keep eating like this, my weight will definitely become unbalanced!"
"Chairman... you wouldn't want to see me so overweight that I can't run on the track, would you?"
"..."
Saito Asuka remained silent for a few seconds before giving his answer under Bamboo Elegance's earnest gaze: "...Couldn't you just tell her that yourself?"
"If only that would work."
Bamboo Elegance shook her head: "But she simply won't listen..."
Ah, worries are such troublesome things.
"So there are times when even you can't handle things?"
Seeing Bamboo Elegance's troubled expression, Saito Asuka actually found it amusing.
Usually, Bamboo Elegance gave him the impression of being a naturally sociable Horse Girl.
No matter what situation she encountered, she always faced it calmly, even playfully teasing everyone standing before her.
This was the first time he had seen her show such a troubled expression over something.
"Does seeing a beautiful maiden, like a blooming flower, wear a distressed expression make you that happy, Trainer?"
"Ahem... my apologies."
Saito Asuka, under Bamboo Elegance's intense gaze, cleared his throat: "But I don't mean to take pleasure in your misfortune, okay?"
"Trainer, that statement of yours is completely unconvincing, you know?"
Bamboo Elegance resumed her usual smiling expression: "And that last part sounded like an afterthought, didn't it?"
"I'll go talk to her."
Seeing Bamboo Elegance smilingly staring at him, Saito Asuka rested his chin on his hand and nodded.
His expression turning serious, he furrowed his brows and 'condemned' the school chef in front of the black-haired Horse Girl.
"How could she do this? What if she ends up making you gain weight and you have to spend time losing it?"
...
Bamboo Elegance simply smiled silently while watching him.
"Trainer, it's better not to say such things in front of a beautiful young girl like me, don't you think?"
"Sorry..."
Saito Asuka, under Bamboo Elegance's intense gaze, lowered his head and apologized to her.
"But... speaking of which, how did you and Ms. Nakayama Megumi meet, Trainer?"
Bamboo Elegance smoothly changed the subject: "Could you share that with me?"
"Now that's something I can stay awake for!"
Hearing Bamboo Elegance's words, Saito Asuka immediately perked up.
Saito Asuka cleared his throat, then slowly began speaking under Bamboo Elegance's gaze: "Actually, we've known each other since we were children..."
Known each other since childhood... So childhood friends finally won for once?!
"Hmm... although I'd like to pick out a few interesting stories to share specifically, thinking back now, they were all just ordinary little things."
Lost in memories, Saito Asuka murmured, then couldn't help but let the corners of his mouth curl upward: "But it's precisely these ordinary little things that tightly bound me to her."
After saying this, Saito Asuka paused, then proudly added his final remark.
"... The proudest thing I've ever done in my life was confessing to her and walking together with her until today."